The Washington critic., 1887-01-31


the material and charge only the cost
of the labor against the property.
This money comes out of the permit
fund"-an annual appropriation for
making small improvements-in which
the District furnishes the material and
does the work, and only charges the
cost of the labor against the citizens.
There is no regular appropriation for
laying sidewalks. The police have
special instructions to report dangerous
holes In the sidewalks Immediately on
discovering them, and dozens are re-
ported every week, whGreupon the
holes are roughly patched, but we sci.
dom hear about new sidewalks being
laid. The policy seems TO be let-bad-
enough alone policy, so long as the
walks are not quite bad enough to en-
danger human life.
TINS is the bill which Mr.. Beck is
cndeavorlug TO engineer to vote in
the Senate:
That It shall be unlawful for amy member
of either ! ousc Of Congress to accept employ
mcnt as attorncy-at-law or payment for
services Of amy kind from any railroad com
pany or any officer or agent thereof which
obtained It's charter or any grant Of lands or
pecuniary aid from the United States; and
any person who violates this provision shall
he guilty Of n misdomeanor and on conviction
be fined in any sum not exceeding 5000 and
Imprisonment not more than one year, In the
discretion of the court
If the introduction of such bill is
justified by existing facts, the Senate
ought TO hurry up and pass 1t for its
own credit 1t is obviously improper
for Senator to sit as judge and act as
attorney in the same case. He might
support bill in opposition to the in
terests Of his client, but would not be
apt to do so. The railroads have no
use for attorneys of that sort.
IL MS sermon yesterday upon the
text "Do Thyself no Harm" DR..
Sunderland gave the ladies who are
engaged in the temperance cause some
very good advice, to the effect that an
undue zeal sometimes overreaches itself,
especially when unsupported by facts.
II is certainly not essential to the sue
cess of reform measures in this District.
that Washington should all the time be
held up to the country as modern
Gomorrah. We have no fault to find
with the motives of the ladies, but
some of their methods are sadly in.
discreet.
THE Post continues to insist that
there were no indecent performances
at the banquet table of the Chinese
Minister the other night, and that all
the rest of us, who know to the con.
trary, are gross calumniators and fhlsi-
flers. We are sorry that we cannot
admire the pluck of our esteemed con.
temporary in thus bucking against
facts, half the crossness of which has
never been told; nor can we divine the
motive OF journalistic venture that
seeks to contradict notorious and au.
thentic history.
PRoTBTTIoN is working in Atlanta
just about as might have been eX-
pected and jus, the way 1t would work
in Washington, if established here.
The Atlanta Eceaiag Cdpitdi says that
whisky and beer are sold almost as
much as ever, only the city gets moth
ing for 1t.
How would it do 10 make Mr.. Fair
child Attorney. .General?" asks the New
York Herdld, 1t might do very well if
there were vacancy in tina, office, but
there Is none just at present and the
President makes no sign that he desires
TO make one.
IL THE sundry Civil Appropriation bill
as II passed the House was an item of 81,
800 for removing fences around Govern
ment reservations In the city. 1t was under.
stood that the Objectionable and obstructi tive
high iron fence inclosing the triangle on the
Avenue, In front Of the New National The
atre, would be removed as soon as the
appropriation became available, and that
walks would be laid through it, the whole
encircled with an ornamental low post and
rail fence, such as adorn the other numer,
GUS triangles throughout the city. This
would have been great improvement Ia
the Avenue at this point, and OF incalcu
liable benefit to patrons Of the National The
atre, who would by the Improvement have
an opportunity to pass through the park, in
stead OF having as now to go around the en-
tire high iron barricade. For some reason
the Senate Committee has struck out thll
Item from the sundry Civil bill. 1t to b(
hoped that the House will insist In confer
ence In retaining this small appropriation
which will result In SO large benefit to th,
appearance Of the Avenue.
where Washington Missed 1t.
An elderly gentleman, who delights II
calculations, contributes this; 'lf the i'm
mortal George Washington, when he wal
Is years Of age, had stepped into railroad
Office and pawned his little hatchet for
, ticket to the planet Mars, he would, at tht
rate Of fifty miles an hour, have arrived
there this year.n-[St. Albans Messenger.
Right ON the "Zoo" Question.
"TnE CRITIC is right, says the Capital
"We want a National Hoo.n
IN TIE ORANGE ORCHARD.
What plontltude of amber light
Floods all the air this breezy morn
, The woods are choral and II seems
AS though, within land of dreams,
! | ! heard from every windy height
, Aieathered Orphous sound his liquid horn
Like tiny harvest moons, see,
Amid the leaves that shake and shine,
! The luscious, rpened fruitage glow,
. The little ChameleOns, as they GO
Change in the sunlight itfully